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em>NBA press release /em>
NEW YORK -- LeBron James and Kyrie Irving of the defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers are the top two vote-getters overall, while Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors lead all Western Conference players in the first fan returns of NBA All-Star Voting 2017 presented by Verizon.
The first week of fan voting for the 66th NBA All-Star Game, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 19 (Feb. 20, PHL time) at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, produced close races in both conferences and generated 138% more votes cast (11,174,153) than during the same time period last year (4,693,433).
James, a 12-time All-Star, received 595,288 votes to earn the top spot among all players. Joining James at the top of the Eastern Conference frontcourt are the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (500,663) and Cleveland’s Kevin Love (250,347), with rookie Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers (221,984) next on the list. Irving (543,030) and 12-time All-Star Dwyane Wade of the Chicago Bulls (278,052) lead the East guards, followed by the Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan (253,340).
Durant, who owns the highest scoring average in All-Star Game history (25.6 ppg), paces all West players with 541,209 votes. He is followed in the West frontcourt by Golden State’s Zaza Pachulia (439,675) and the San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (341,240), who edges the New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis (318,144). Curry (523,597) narrowly tops a tight race among West guards, with the Houston Rockets’ James Harden (519,446) edging two-time reigning All-Star Game MVP Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (501,652) for second place.
For the first time ever, NBA players and basketball media will join fans in selecting the starters for the NBA All-Star Game. Fans will account for 50 percent of the vote, while all current players and a media panel will account for 25 percent each. Player and media voting will begin next week, with each participant completing one full ballot featuring two guards and three frontcourt players from both conferences.
After all votes are tallied, players will be ranked in each conference by position (guard and frontcourt) within each of the three voting groups – fan votes, player votes and media votes. Each player’s score will be calculated by averaging his weighted rank from the fan votes, the player votes and the media votes. The five players (two guards and three frontcourt players) with the best score in each conference will be named NBA All-Star Game starters. Fan voting will serve as the tiebreaker for players in a position group with the same score.
See below for the first fan returns of NBA All-Star Voting 2017 presented by Verizon.
strong>NBA ALL-STAR VOTING 2017 PRESENTED BY VERIZON /strong>
em> strong>Eastern Conference Frontcourt /strong> /em>
1. LeBron James (CLE) 595,288 br />
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) 500,663 br />
3. Kevin Love (CLE) 250,347 br />
4. Joel Embiid (PHI) 221,984 br />
5. Carmelo Anthony (NY) 189,817 br />
6. Jimmy Butler (CHI) 189,066 br />
7. Kristaps Porzingis (NY) 184,166 br />
8. Paul George (IND) 138,332 br />
9. Hassan Whiteside (MIA) 72,628 br />
10. Jabari Parker (MIL) 64,141
em> strong>Eastern Conference Guards /strong> /em>
1. Kyrie Irving (CLE) 543,030 br />
2. Dwyane Wade (CHI) 278,052 br />
3. DeMar DeRozan (TOR) 253,340 br />
4. Isaiah Thomas (BOS) 193,297 br />
5. Derrick Rose (NY) 129,924 br />
6. Kyle Lowry (TOR) 128,940 br />
7. John Wall (WAS) 87,360 br />
8. Jeremy Lin (BKN) 59,562 br />
9. Kemba Walker (CHA) 52,122 br />
10. Avery Bradley (BOS) 32,822
em> strong>Western Conference Frontcourt /strong> /em>
1. Kevin Durant (GS) 541,209 br />
2. Zaza Pachulia (GS) 439,675 br />
3. Kawhi Leonard (SA) 341,240 br />
4. Anthony Davis (NO) 318,144 br />
5. Draymond Green (GS) 236,315 br />
6. DeMarcus Cousins (SAC) 202,317 br />
7. Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) 125,278 br />
8. LaMarcus Aldridge (SA) 101,724 br />
9. Blake Griffin (LAC) 100,524 br />
10. Marc Gasol (MEM) 97,370
em> strong>Western Conference Guards /strong> /em>
1. Stephen Curry (GS) 523,597 br />
2. James Harden (HOU) 519,446 br />
3. Russell Westbrook (OKC) 501,652 br />
4. Klay Thompson (GS) 293,054 br />
5. Chris Paul (LAC) 173,830 br />
6. Damian Lillard (POR) 117,857 br />
7. Eric Gordon (HOU) 76,609 br />
8. Manu Ginobili (SA) 65,832 br />
9. Andre Iguodala (GS) 64,247 br />
10. Zach LaVine (MIN) 53,642
* * *
strong>How Fans Can Vote /strong>
NBA fans may submit one full ballot each day through NBA.com, the NBA App (available on Android and iOS), Twitter, Facebook and Google Search, as well as via Sina Weibo and Tencent Microblogs in China. All current NBA players are available for selection.
em> strong>NBA.com voting page at NBA.com/vote: /strong> /em> Fill out one full ballot per day (once every 24 hours) on NBA.com/vote from a desktop or mobile browser. Fans can select up to two guards and three frontcourt players from each conference when choosing starters. br />
br />
em> strong>NBA App: /strong> /em>Access the ballot and vote through the app, which is available on Android and iOS. Fans can fill out one full ballot per day and select up to two guards and three frontcourt players from each conference when choosing starters. br />
br />
em> strong>Twitter: /strong> /em>Tweet, retweet or reply with an NBA player’s first and last name or Twitter handle, along with the hashtag 'NBAVOTE. Each tweet may include only one player’s name or handle. Fans may vote for 10 unique players each day throughout the NBA All-Star voting period. br />
br />
em> strong>Facebook: /strong> /em>Post the player’s first and last name along with the hashtag 'NBAVOTE on your personal Facebook account, or comment on another’s Facebook post. Each post may include only one player’s name. Fans may post votes for 10 unique players per day throughout the voting period. br />
br />
em> strong>Google Search: /strong> /em> Search “NBA Vote All-Star” or “NBA Vote Team Name” (ex: NBA Vote Celtics) and use respective voting cards to select teams and then players. Fans may submit votes for 10 unique players per day throughout the voting period.
The next fan voting update will be shared on Thursday, Jan. 12 (Jan. 13, PHL time). Voting for fans, players and media will conclude on Monday, Jan. 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET (Jan. 17, 12:59 a.m., PHL time). Starters will be announced live on TNT on Thursday, Jan. 19 (Jan. 20, PHL time) during a special one-hour edition of TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by Autotrader.com, featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. The special will air prior to TNT’s doubleheader showcasing the Washington Wizards at the New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the LA Clippers. The Eastern Conference and Western Conference All-Star reserves, as selected by NBA head coaches, will be announced the following week on Thursday, Jan. 26 (Jan. 27, PHL time). .....»»

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Robert Covington scored 22 points and made two 3-pointers in the final 40 seconds to lead the streaking Philadelphia 76ers to a come-from-behind 93-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Ersan Ilyasova scored 24 points and Joel Embiid added 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Sixers, who have won four straight and eight of their last 10.
Embiid, who sparked the recent surge, suffered a bruised left knee in the second half and didn't play the final 8:50 of the game.
But the Sixers rallied for the victory without their prized center as Covington drilled the winner with 4.5 seconds left before Mason Plumlee missed a shot at the buzzer on the other end.
It was Covington's second game-winning basket this month after his buzzer-beater sunk the Timberwolves on Jan. 4.
Damian Lillard scored 30 points for the Blazers, who have lost four straight. .....»»

em>By Rob Maaddi, Associated Press /em>
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 26 points, Ersan Ilyasova added 18 and the resurgent Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 94-89 on Wednesday night (Thursday, PHL time) for their seventh win in nine games.
Embiid, who was questionable because of the flu, surpassed 20 points in fewer than 30 minutes in his 10th straight game.
With Embiid leading the way, the Sixers are no longer the NBA's laughingstock. They're only 14-26 but have rejuvenated a city that has patiently waited for a winner through three miserable seasons.
DeMar DeRozan scored 25 and Kyle Lowry had 24 for the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors. .....»»

Former Ateneo de Manila Queen Eagle Alyssa Valdez promised to join the tryouts set by the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc, for the national women’s team that will see action in the 29th Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games on August 19 to 31.
LVPI vice president Peter Cayco said that Valdez told him Saturday that the three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player will undergo the selection process just like other national squad aspirants.
The Manila tryout is on January 28, 29 and 31 with legs in Cebu and Davao set next month. Each aspirant must complete the three-day tryout. The names of the players that will make the 20-woman pool will be announced on the last week of February.
Valdez, a two-time UAAP champion who bannered the PHI team in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games, assured LVPI in a meeting with Cayco in the sports association’s office at Arellano-Taft before she flew to Thailand Sunday to join 3BB Nakornnont in the Thai League, that she will return home during the break to join any of the three tryouts.
“Nakapag-usap kami noong Saturday ang sabi niya sa akin uuwi siya para sa tryouts,” Cayco said Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Complex Media Center.
Valdez will debut in the Thai League on January 29 making her unavailable for the Manila leg. She is expected to show up either in the Cebu or Davao leg.
National team head coach Francis Vicente, who discovered and molded Valdez into a star during her high school days as a University of Sto. Tomas player, pointed out that though Valdez is a cut above the rest with her volleyball skills, leadership and fan base she will still go under the scrutiny of the selection committee.
“Alam naman natin na Alyssa Valdez is angat, sikat and sa akin din galing yan pero ayaw ko na kukunin ko na siya na, ‘O halika na rito wag ka na mag-tryout.’ Unfair naman ‘yun sa iba,” said Vicente. “Unfair naman yun kina Myla Pablo kina Grethcel Soltones e magaling din naman sila. Ayokong mabansagan na may kinikilingan. If she really wants to play in the national team kailangan niyang pumunta sa tryouts, no special treatment.”
LVPI president Joey Romasanta commended the gesture of Valdez, who served as the country’s flag-bearer during the last SEA Games, saying that her willingness to join the tryouts during her break in the Thai League.
“’Yung sinabi ni Alyssa na uuwi siya rito to join the tryout for the national team is very commendable and a manifestation of her being a true athlete and her sincerest desire to serve the country via the national team,” said Roamsanta. “Ako, we are very hopeful that during the breaks in her (Thai League) schedule she will be able to join any of those tryouts.”
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Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles
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Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Gen. Ronald dela Rosa has clarified a recent statement made by President Duterte regarding the supposed arrest in Malaysia of one of the prime suspects in the deadly Davao City bombing......»»

em>By Joe DiGiovanni, Associated Press /em>
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Joel Embiid scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and the Philadelphia 76ers won for the fourth time in five games, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 113-104 on Monday (Tuesday, PHL time).
The Sixers improved to 13-26. Their only recent loss was Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) at Washington, when Embiid didn't play. Embiid is limited to 28 minutes per game while trying to overcome injuries that have slowed his career.
Embiid had 12 rebounds. He made four of nine shots and 13 of 18 free throws.
Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo each scored 23 points for Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo was in foul trouble for most of the second half, scoring only two points in 11 minutes after the break and fouling out with 2:51 to go.
Dario Saric scored 17 points and Ersan Ilyasova added 12 for the Sixers.
The 76ers used a 12-2 run to take control of the game midway through the fourth quarter. A dunk by Jahlil Okafor began the burst and Embiid capped it with a pair of free throws.
Milwaukee missed 10 of its first 13 shots in the quarter to fall behind 97-87 with less than five minutes to play.
Tony Snell's three-pointer capped a 13-0 run and gave Milwaukee a 48-40 lead.
strong>FOUL TROUBLE /strong>
Antetokounmpo had a marvelous first half with 21 points, making 9-of-11 shots. But the Bucks star picked up his fourth foul with 6:04 left in the third quarter and didn't return until the beginning of the fourth quarter. He lasted just 38 seconds in the fourth quarter before committing his fifth foul and heading back to the bench.
strong>TIP-INS /strong>
em> strong>76ers: /strong> /em> G T.J. McConnell was in Philadelphia to have an MRI on his right wrist. He had started the past seven games for the 76ers, which went 5-2 in that span. Sergio Rodriguez started in his place.
em> strong>Bucks: /strong> /em>Parker spoke to the Milwaukee crowd before the game about Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. 'His legacy, his leadership, his characteristics really resemble what our country needs to be like today,' he said.
strong>UP NEXT /strong>
em> strong>76ers: /strong> /em>Host Toronto Wednesday night (Thursday, PHL time).
em> strong>Bucks: /strong> /em> At Houston Wednesday night (Thursday, PHL time).
.....»»

WASHINGTON (AP) John Wall had 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Bradley Beal added 20 points and the Washington Wizards used a second-half spurt to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 109-93 on Saturday night.
The 76ers had won three straight for the first time in more than three years. They played without rookie star Joel Embiid. He sat out to rest after scoring 24 points Thursday night against Charlotte.
Philadelphia raced to an early 13-point lead, but the Wizards outscored Philadelphia 24-11 in the final minutes of the first half for a 56-all halftime tie. Washington scored seven straight to start the second half and a 10-0 run gave it a 77-62 lead with 3:37 left in the third quarter.
Jahlil Okafor, who hadn't played in the last three games, had a season-high 26 points for the 76ers.
The Wizards have won 11 straight at home. .....»»

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Joel Embiid scored 24 points, blocked three shots and led the Philadelphia 76ers to their third straight victory, 102-93 over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night (Saturday, PHL time).
The Sixers are on their first three-game winning streak since they won four straight from Dec. 29, 2013 -- Jan. 4, 2014. Led by Embiid, the Sixers have won five of six games overall and are no longer the league laughingstock.
Embiid made 6-of-12 shots, grabbed eight rebounds and has made basketball fun again in Philadelphia. Embiid waved his arms while fans chanted 'Trust the Process!' at him at the free-throw line. Embiid, the rookie center, even heard 'MVP!' chants in the final minutes for his role in transforming the Sixers over the last month from cellar dwellers to a competitive team.
Nicolas Batum scored 19 points and Kemba Walker had 17 for the Hornets. .....»»

Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. could be leaning towards tapping Sammy Acaylar and Francis Vicente to handle the national teams that will see action in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The two coaches out of the 23 names in the associations shortlist of mentors presented solid programs for the national squad when they sat down with LVPI acting president Peter Cayco.
“Both of them showed their commitment and presented a very good training program for the national team,” said Cayco, who with the association is looking forward for a better showing for the national team in the biennial meet from August 19 to 31.
Cayco together with Jeff Tamayo and Rod Roque of the three-man search committee will forward their recommendation to the LVPI board of trustees, which will then make the formal announcement on Friday.
“We already have the decision but we don’t want to preempt the LVPI board. We will forward our decision to the LVPI board,” Cayco said.
The chosen head coaches will then be tasked to form a 16-man pool each for the men’s and women’s teams.
Acaylar led Altas back on top of the NCAA in Season 91 and was a part of the coaching staff of the national women’s team that won the country’s last gold medal in the SEA Games and was the head coach of the national squad that saw action in 2015 Asian Women's Seniors Volleyball Championship. Vicente, meanwhile, handled the national youth team in a couple of international stints last year.
Aside from the two, other coaches in the shortlist are Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro, who handled the men’s national team in the Singapore SEA Games two years ago, Macky Carino of defending NCAA women’s volleyball champion College of St. Benilde and Obet Javier of NCAA Season 90 titlist Arellano University.
Also included are Lerma Giron, Mac Gepuela, Marcelo Joaquin, Jason Gabales, Michael Inoferio, Bryan Esquibel, Raymund Castillo, Jeremiah Barrica, Raplh Dablo, Leovimo Rivera, Michael Santos, Roberto Javier, Carl Bryan Vitus, Richard Estacio, Ruel Pascual, Leonardo Toyco, Benjamin Mape, Michael Carino, Dexter Clamor and Alvin Dumalaog.
De La Salle women’s team head coach Ramil De Jesus and University of Sto. Tomas’ Kungfu Reyes declined the invitation because of various reasons but promised to help out and give their support if needed.
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Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles
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Former Ateneo de Manila Queen Eagle Alyssa Valdez hopes to get a compromise when Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. conducts its tryouts for the national women’s team that will see action in the 29th Southeast Asian Games.
Valdez, who was a part of the PHI Team that participated in the 2015 edition of the biennial meet in Singapore, will be away for four months to play in Thailand and will not be available if the appointed head coach conducts the tryouts within the first quarter of the year.
Valdez will fly to Thailand on January 15 to join 3BB Nakornnont and play in the Thai League and Thai-Denmark Super League.
LVPI is set to name the national team mentor this week. The sports association is looking to form a 16-woman pool that will train as early as possible for the August 19 to 31 meet.
“Ako I think as an athlete as a Filipino athlete, ‘yun din naman ang ultimate goal mo (to be a part of the national team) aside from your dreams na makapaglaro internationally,” who also played for the Nationals that participated in the Asian U-23 Women’s Volleyball Championship held in Pasig two years ago.
LVPI acting president Peter Cayco earlier said that this SEA Games team will be a mix of six veterans, six young bloods and four reserves as the country guns for a medal after its last podium finish back in the 2005 Manila edition when the Pinay volleybelles snatched a bronze medal.
He also added that LVPI wants to pick players that are willing to give their full commitment to the squad.
With Valdez set to play in Thailand, the three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player is looking for a way to get a nod for another tour of duty.
“But if 'yung mga circumstances hindi ko rin kayang (bigyan ng time) kasi siyempre may responsibilities ka din. Kasi di ba magi-start na sila ng training? And I’m away din so ayun hopefully magawan din ng paraan,” said the two-time UAAP champion. “I think in both parties naman like Thailand wouldn’t hinder me naman (to play for the national team) for sure kung sa country naman maiintindihan nila ‘yun. Hopefully may way din (na makasali ako sa national team).”
The 23-year-old hitter showcased her skills and talents during the country’s first participation in the SEA Games since 2005 and was chosen as the country’s flag-bearer marching aplomb ahead of the 600-strong Team Philippines.
Valdez wants to get another crack of representing the country.
“Ultimate dream mo is to represent the country,” she said. “I would really love to do that if given a chance.”
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Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles .....»»

em>By Brian Mahoney, Associated Press /em>
NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Embiid is no longer just trusting the process. Now he's talking about the playoffs.
Embiid scored 20 points and the Philadelphia 76ers earned their 10th victory to match their total from all last season, beating the Brooklyn Nets 105-95 on Sunday (Monday, PHL time).
The 76ers broke it open with a 17-2 surge in the fourth quarter to win the matchup between the NBA's two worst teams and improve to 10-25 in their first season with former lottery picks Embiid and Dario Saric. They were 10-72 in 2015-16, just off their own record for worst finish in the 82-game schedule.
Embiid has looked at the standings and seen the 76ers are eight games back of eighth place in the Eastern Conference, and believes that should be a goal.
'I think we have a chance. We've been hot lately,' he said. 'We've won three out of four lately, so I look at it and I think we have a chance and we're really figuring things out. We're starting to learn how to win games.'
Embiid did his damage without even reaching the 28-minute restriction he was limited to as he recovers from a series of foot injuries that delayed his NBA debut for two years. He left the court to chants of 'Trust the Process!' in a nod to what he and others reminded fans while the Sixers lost big during Sam Hinkie's rebuilding plan.
Even as the victories come, coach Brett Brown said the building process remains most important.
'We are winning basketball games more frequently than we have been, but for us it's still, how are we doing what we do?' Brown said. 'Are we doing our job? Are we not skipping steps? Are we putting in good days? And we believe as simple as that might sound that they will add up.'
Saric added 18 points, while Robert Covington and Nik Stauskas each had 15.
Brook Lopez scored 26 points for the Nets (8-28), who have lost six in a row.
The Nets led by 11 at halftime, but the Sixers scored the first 13 points of the third quarter to take their first lead at 59-57 on a jumper by Embiid. They opened the second half with a 30-9 spurt and went into the fourth ahead 78-73.
'I just didn't feel like that third quarter, it's like, 'Why isn't our energy the same?'' Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said.
Brooklyn recovered to take an 85-84 edge but it was all Sixers from there, closing their spurt with 13 straight points to make it 101-87 on Covington's 3-pointer.
strong>TIP-INS /strong>
em> strong>76ers: /strong> /em>Sergio Rodriguez returned after a three-game absence with a sprained left ankle, but T.J. McConnell remained the starter after recording a career-high 17 assists Friday (Saturday, PHL time) at Boston. Brown stopped short of saying it would stay that way long-term or even that McConnell would play the starter's share of the minutes, but praised his play in Rodriguez's absence. McConnell missed his first seven shots but finished with six assists and eight rebounds.
em> strong>Nets: /strong> /em>The Nets fell to 7-2 against the 76ers at Barclays Center, their most wins against any team. Starting forward Trevor Booker left after just three minutes of the second half with a bruised left hip. The Nets originally ruled him out for the remainder of the game, but he returned with 4:36 to play.
strong>NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN /strong>
The 76ers spent their Saturday night in New York at the Broadway musical 'Hamilton,' the winner of 11 Tony Awards in 2016 that uses hip-hop music to tell the story of Alexander Hamilton and America's founding fathers.
'Team stuff like that, growing a culture, building a program off the floor, that stuff matters to us,' Brown said, 'and I think it's just one other example of just things you try to do with a team to just grow a program and grow a culture and it was a wonderful day.'
strong>UP NEXT /strong>
em> strong>76ers: /strong> /em> Host New York on Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time), the first meeting this season.
em> strong>Nets: /strong> /em> Host Atlanta on Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time), Atkinson's first time coaching against the team where he was an assistant the previous four seasons. .....»»

US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday mocked his “Apprentice” successor Arnold Schwarzenegger over ratings for the TV show, sparking a Twitter fight between America’s two biggest celebrities-turned-politicians......»»